10 potential candidates for the Laois football manager’s job

Expect this story to run and run. Peter Creedon has stepped down as Laois football manager and the search to replace him will get underway in the coming weeks.

Expect many names to be linked to the role.

Here we profile 10 names that could be in the mix.

Sean Dempsey

Sean Dempsey

The man credited with Laois’s great spell of minor and U-21 teams from 2003 to 2007, he took over the senior job in 2009 and did two years before being let go after the 2010 season. His time with Laois ended badly and he hasn’t been involved with Laois county teams since but he has been involved with county teams in Carlow and Longford and is currently over the Edenderry senior team in Offaly.

Chris Conway

Chris Conway

Former Laois player and captain in the 2004 season he has built up a lot of coaching hours with Knockbeg College where he is a teacher. Guided them to their first – and only – All Ireland ‘A’ title in 2005 and has been over them since. The only Laois school consistently playing at the highest level. A leader with his club Arles-Kilcruise for well over 20 years now too.

Padraig Clancy

Padraig Clancy

One of Laois’s most ‘capped’ players, he retired after the 2013 season having been involved non-stop since making his debut in 2001. The Timahoe man has since moved into management, spending two years with Ballyroan-Abbey where they gained successive league promotions. Is now over Graiguecullen.

Joe Higgins

Joe Higgins

A former fan’s favourite, the St Joseph’s clubman has also managed Graiguecullen and brought Arles-Killeen to a county final in 2014. Also spent a time as manager of the Laois ladies football team.

Tommy Conroy

Tommy Conroy

Conroy was a selector with Laois under Liam Kearns in 2007 and has been involved with Portlaoise on a number of different occasions, winning a Leinster title with them in 2004 in his first year in charge.

Malachy McNulty

Malachy McNulty

One of the younger names on this list, McNulty is the current Portlaoise manager, whom he very nearly won a Leinster club title with in 2015. Was involved with the club’s U-21 and intermediate teams prior to taking on the senior role and has worked closely with Tommy Conroy.

Ger Lawlor

Ger Lawlor

The Emo man has been living in Clare for a number of years and has linked up with club teams in Limerick and Clare and has a very good track record at that level. Was manager of Monaleen for a number of their Limerick senior and was then appointed as manager of Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Portlaoise’s conquerors in 2010) a couple of years back before having to step back because of health issues. Has since recovered and brought Cooraclare to the 2015 Clare final.

Billy Sheehan

Billy Sheehan

The Kerry native played for Laois from 2005 to 2014 and was widely regarded as one of the team’s leaders. Has a lot of coaching time built up at schools level and has also been involved with UCD before joining the Cork senior setup for the past two seasons under Peadar Healy.

John Evans

John Evans

The Kerry man been involved with Roscommon, Tipperary and Meath in recent years and would bring a wealth of experience to the role.

Pete McGrath

Pete McGrath

Recently stepped away from the Fermanagh role in controversial circumstances, after a couple of years in charge. The Down native was the youngest All Ireland-winning manager when he guided his home county to success in 1991. Has been involved with a number of teams since, including a spell as Ireland’s International Rules manager.

Steven Miller is owner and managing editor of LaoisToday.ie. From Laois, Steven studied Journalism in DCU and has 14 years experience in the media, almost 10 of those in an editorial role. Husband of Emily, father of William and Lillian, he's happiest when he's telling stories or kicking a point.